1. Registration trouble? Please use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom right corner of the page and your issue will be resolved.
    Dismiss Notice

Pertronix vs HEI

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by bucont, Jul 18, 2006.

  1. Jul 18, 2006
    bucont

    bucont Next Project!

    Dover Centre Ontario
    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2005
    Messages:
    67
    I have weeded through a couple hundred posts on this subject as Iam getting ready to go in one direction or another. There is a ton of pros to both, and it seems the consensus is both are a good upgrade.

    Has any of you had both of these on a Buick V6 at any given time to get a good comparison? Of course not at the same time.

    Is the extra cash and work for HEI worth it over the Pertronix?

    Thanks
     
  2. Jul 18, 2006
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2002
    Messages:
    4,275
    Personal preference IMHO. Keep in mund though, the Pertronix conversion is NOT and HEI setup, only a hall-effect trigger mechanism to eliminate points. It is a quantum leap up from a points-type setup, but the HEI parts are more readily available from your FLAPS should you have a failure, since it is all GM OEM parts.

    Should you choose to go the Pertronix route and want the higher-energy ignition, you'll need to go to a hotter coil and perhaps an MSD unit in order to maximize the potential of your ignition setup.
     
  3. Jul 18, 2006
    MOP

    MOP Active Member

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2003
    Messages:
    1,131
    Or you can go the overkill route like myself and get the HEI with MSD. I have no experience with Pertronix, but when comparing a high quality HEI (DUI) alone to the same HEI plus MSD, the MSD did add a very smooth acceleration response, better idle, and probably more go-power.

    Similar to what Steve said, I would go for the HEI given the parts availability combined with performance improvement. The "extra cash" required for a HEI is perhaps not true, given many people get them cheaper than it would cost for a Pertronix setup.
     
  4. Jul 18, 2006
    bucont

    bucont Next Project!

    Dover Centre Ontario
    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2005
    Messages:
    67

    You have my attention here. The cost for pertronix without a coil is $65 .... the cheapest I have found a HEI rebuild is $150. Where does one pick up HEI for less than $65?
     
  5. Jul 18, 2006
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    9,221
    I've bought and sold 'em for $50 or so in working condition.
     
  6. Jul 18, 2006
    linckeil

    linckeil Member

    Danbury CT
    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2004
    Messages:
    492
    you may want to consider this guy. i'm sending my buick 215 distributor to him to convert. all reviews i have read about his work have been great, but i can't speak from experience.

    http://www.davessmallbodyheis.com/
     
  7. Jul 18, 2006
    mtndewmaniac66

    mtndewmaniac66 Down to Earth!

    Vernal, Utah.
    Joined:
    May 25, 2006
    Messages:
    178
    I use to sell the pertronix kits through Champion Auto Stores, Parts Plus, Big-A, Carquest, and this unit is a good replacement to points. The draw back is being that it is only a trigger replacement. It does eliminate the points, but does not produce a hotter spark. If at all possible, go HEI. I swear by HEI, and upgrade parts, like the cap/rotor kit, coil, module, pick-up coil, are readily available.
     
  8. Jul 18, 2006
    tdobson

    tdobson Tom

    Hampton, Va.
    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2004
    Messages:
    65
    I ran a pertronics for a while in my '66 225. It was like night and day difference. My main concern was I didn't know how reliable it would be. When I destroyed my timing gear I thought that might be the problem and decided to convert to HEI. I got lucky and found the complete distributer with cap and wires in a junkyard for $35 I believe.

    If the difference between points and pertronics is like night and day then the difference in HEI and pertronics is like winter and summer. It is definately worth it in my opinion.
     
  9. Jul 18, 2006
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2002
    Messages:
    4,275
    No HEI avalable for a Go-Devil 4. :( <sniff>
     
  10. Jul 18, 2006
    Rondog

    Rondog just hangin' out

    Parker, CO
    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2005
    Messages:
    2,918
    Same for an F-head I assume?
     
  11. Jul 18, 2006
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2002
    Messages:
    4,275
    <sniff> Yes, unfortunately. :cry:
     
  12. Jul 18, 2006
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    9,221
    I heard tell some time ago of a guy who took a HEI from a GM 4 cylinder and mated it to the Willys distributor in a F-head...

    I know it's been done with the 226, so it might be possible. I don't have an F-head close enough to tinker with though.
     
  13. Jul 18, 2006
    dohc281

    dohc281 It is what it is.

    Laurel Springs, N.J.
    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2004
    Messages:
    605
    Read my question from a few days ago, I've eaten 2 pertronix on my F head. I'm still not sure why.
     
New Posts